Hey everybody, i just got a 98 Acura Integra LS 4 door with the b18b1 and auto trans. I am sort of a gear head when it comes to cars, as ive been working with my dad in the shop since i was 4 ft tall. Im 17 now, Senior in High School, and have 4 classes of Auto Shop, and Im learning every day! From the looks of it, all of you like very descriptive questions, etc. So here goes:

I have been reading up a lot recently within the past 2 days about performance parts etc, (i know you guys get a lot of questions about random crap), but i have a few questions.

I understand my Integra doesn't come with VTEC, obviously, and I was looking at my options on what I should do for the first mod.

I was either thingking about getting a b18c1 head and doing (from what I've heard) the lsvtec build. But i was talking to a friend of mine who has a CRX with a full GSR motor in it.
That got me thinking along the lines of expanding to new blocks, etc, as from what I understand all B series parts are interchangeable?

My friend has been recommending a b20 block with the b18c1 heads. And im not sure what I want to do.

Hope this was all specific enough for what you guy were hoping for, and I hope to learn a lot about this car!

 

rip out and sell your motor and gearbox to start with then start saving.

good to see you are planning before you do decide what you want.

an yes a b20 block with a b18c head does workit it is a very well thought out and undertakn project, but... id rather go with a b16a2 head than a b18

 

Read a lot and learn from the ones who've gone before.

Yes, many B-series parts are interchangeable but not all are - and knowing the exceptions will save a lot of frustration.

Have fun - hopefully you have enough time to shop for good deals and really get a clear picture of what you want.

Mark

 

Can i ask why you would go with the b16a2 head?

My friend is pretty much taking care of looking for the parts, I'm pretty much checking his list, seeing what I want, and going from there.

Im honestly shooting in the dark and asking for some help here on what other people are running/had success with.

I have heard that the b18b1 is a great setup for turbo, and im wondering if that would be more cost effective, or even more ethical to do than to do some motor swap.

 

I think the b16a2 head is essentially identical to the type R (casting, flow) - so pick the goodies to match your expected configuration (N/A, turbo, max RPM - e.g. springs, valves, cam) and you're good to go. A lot of that can be budget driven too, of course.

Here's a good bit of info to consider if you're thinking N/A:

https://honda-tech.com/forums/all-motor-naturally-aspirated-44/profunction-presents-bseries-intake-manifold-tests-version-2-0-l-endyn-edelbrock-itr-2836657/

Have fun - Mark

 

the b16a or b16a2 and the b18cr are the excact same heads! made from the same cast.
the difrence between the b18cr is that they hand done a port job has more agressive cam's stronger valves and duel spring's on i think the exhaust side (correct me if im wrong)

as for the b16a2 head its just my personal choice, the cam's have more lift on the secoundry's then the b18c and has beter flow, not much but it all adds up.
i also beleive if you go with a b16a head it will open up the chance for the b16a2 or the b18cr intake manifold.

and also a wire tuck could be looked into
no comment bowt the b18b turbo set up,
try lookn up "how to build a reliable lsvtec build" great info
were in the same boat ive only started working on my own cars this year
good luck

 

Oh yes, that is one thing I forgot to mention is that I does have to be a budget project. I'll most likely be running N/A, I'll check out that link, thanks a lot!
Ok, ill look into the b16a2 head, thanks you so much guys, i appreciate it!

 

Hey guys, I didn't even think about smogging in CA... I guess the lsvtec is the only option, unless there is another way?

 

In CA you will not pass visual inspection with a VTEC head on it. I'm doing an LSVTEC myself witha GSR head, but in all honesty, unless you have built a motor before, I wouldn't try it. A lot of people on here will tell you to just do a full GSR swap. LSVTEC motors are notoriously unreliable. So if this is your first build, I would just swap in a completely stock GSR and trans, and then start modding from there.

 

LSVTEC isn't "Notoriously Unreliable" people just cut corners when building them. I'm personally not a fan of the builds, but to each their own. But the ones you always here blowing up are because they don't do thigns right, take shortcuts to save money. I have a few friends running LSV, one has blow his engine twice, because he always rushes through. The others aren't having issues years later, because they built it right with quality stuff the first time. OP, I don't smog, but I know it's strict, your car shows as NON Vtec, but it'll clearly have a vtec engine in it, which I believe is a non pass, unless you have a hookup. Instead of going a built N/A, have you thought about a manual swap and doing a a GSR build, or even building the LS engine?

 

I would do a full GSR swap/build. As for not passing due to having a vtec motor, shave the valve cover and take it to a shop with old mechanics, they won't know the difference lol.

 

Wouldn't a full gsr swap not pass smog too? Would building the ls motor be better with a Carb legal Turbo kit, with 2.5" exhaust piping and custom intake? It doesn't have to be extreme power, but a good base that I can build off of for a good price.

 

Do they make that many completely Carb Legal tubo kits? I feel like they don't have that many..

That's why I was thinking of a LS build instead for you. At the end of the day it's on you to research and see what fits your goals best. There are a lot of options to go from!

Good lucK!

 

i heard greddy makes a carb legal turbo kit but its not that great. better off spending the money on something else.

also

ditch the autotragic and get a manual. how to do a tranny swap might be a good thing to learn.

 

Yeah, it seems likes its going out, ive done a service twice, (spill and fill the 3 quarts of tranny fluid) and each time is smelled BURNT, like bad, and it only got a little light, it use to jerk you when it shifted, now its better, but slips everyonce in a while.

When you would step on it, it would get to about 7200rpms and just hit the revlimiter until you let off, it didnt like shifting lol.

Im gonna do one more change, and if it doesn't start to get better, ill let it go until it dies then most likely get a manual.

 

i would go with a full gsr swap. lsv is not really cheap and will not out perform a gsr unless some mods are added.

 

please explain